If it wasn’t for the presence of mind of a special police officer (SPO) hired during an extraordinary recruitment drive last year in the Valley, at least 10 security personnel would have either got killed or been badly wounded in a grenade attack in Sopore on Sunday morning.

Renowned Hindustani vocalist Pandit M Venkatesh Kumar has been selected for the Gangubai Hangal National Award.

The award carries a purse of Rs one lakh and a memento. It will be conferred at a function scheduled to be held on October 29 in Hubballi. Gangubai Hangal Sangeeta Mahotsava Samiti has instituted the award.

If it wasn’t for the presence of mind of a special police officer (SPO) hired during an extraordinary recruitment drive last year in the valley, at least 10 security personnel would have either got killed or been badly wounded in a grenade attack in Sopore on Sunday morning.

Two senior police officials were removed and a high-level probe was ordered into the violence on the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus on Saturday night and Sunday, that left dozens, including girls, injured.
According to the sources here on Monday prime minister Narendra Modi spoke to UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath on the violence and asked for action against the guilty.
UP chief secretary has been asked to conduct a probe into the violence and submit a report to the state government. Action will be taken on the basis of the report, said a senior official here.
Circle officer of Bhelupur and the SHO of Lanka police station have been shunted out after the violence, sources said.
According to the police sources here cases have been registered against one thousand unidentified students in connection with the violence. Over a dozen students have been detained.
Tough the varsity administration made it clear that the inmates had not been directed to vacate the hostels, scores of students were seen ...

Buoyed by the rise in the number of cases of missing children being rescued from its premises, the Indian Railways has decided to extend its campaign in this regard to cover the 75 busiest railway stations in the country.
The Operation Muskaan, launched in 2015 to rescue the children found on the railway premises, currently covers only 35 railway stations.
The railway ministry has now decided to bring 47 additional stations within the ambit of the campaign, taking the number of stations covered under it to 82, a statement from the ministry said today.
With this, all the 75 A1 category railway stations in the country would be covered under the campaign, it added.
According to data provided by the ministry, in 2014, 2015 and 2016, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) rescued 20,931 children, including 1,317 (944 boys, 373 girls) trafficked children, who were found from across the railway network.
In the current year, till August, 7,126 children have been rescued by the RPF, including 185 (124 boys, 61 girls) ...

The Tripura government will operate a helicopter service for Durga Puja revellers and sightseers to enable them get an aerial view of tourist spots and puja celebrations here, an official said on Monday.

Encouraged with the success of campaign launched by Railway Protection Force (RPF) to rescue distressed children, Ministry of Railways has now decided to implement this campaign in 47 additional Railway stations in addition to existing 35 stations

Days before the first anniversary of India's surgical strikes, the Army thwarted an Uri-type terrorist attack when it intercepted a group of newly-infiltrated terrorists before they could unleash mayhem in Kashmir's Kalgai village along the Line of Control (LoC).
Three terrorists were killed in the ensuing gunbattle in the Uri sector, and several villagers trapped at the encounter site were rescued by security forces.
Sources said that one of the terrorists had forcibly entered a civilian home and taken the family hostage. Another terrorist had taken refuge in a local mosque where he was gunned down by a Jammu and Kashmir Police team. All terrorists are believed to be Pakistani nationals. Three AK series rifles were recovered.
The Indian Army had carried out surgical strikes against terror launchpads across the LOC in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on September 29, 2016.
Four terrorists had stormed the 12 Infantry Brigade Headquarters in Uri, killing 18 soldiers and injuring 20 others, 10 days before ...

Baramulla (Jammu and Kashmir) , September 24: An encounter is underway between the security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri area in Baramulla sector. Three to four terrorists have been trapped.